That location is now in the midst of a “going-out-of-business” sale, and the store, along with its Washington Twp. corporate headquarters, will shut down permanently in the coming weeks or months, Barker said. The closings will impact about 12 people, he said.
Raven Rock specializes in high-end, rugged work clothing and boots, from brands such as Carhartt, Wolverine and Timberland. Many of its stores were in shopping malls, and the high leasing costs combined with disappointing sales contributed to the chain’s financial struggles, said Barker, who joined the company two years ago as a merchandise buyer.
The company was launched with great promise in 2005, with four members of its executive team coming from Elder-Beerman, which two years earlier had been sold to Bon-Ton. Lead investors included the Miami Valley Venture Fund, CityWide Development Corp. and the Dayton Investment Network of venture capitalists.
The company’s original goal was to open 200 stores in the Midwest by 2010, but that goal was later scaled back. The company’s headquarters started in downtown Dayton in 2005, and moved to the Centerville area the following year.
The Sugarcreek Plaza store’s closing date hasn’t been set, and will depend on how fast inventory is sold, Barker said. Some merchandise is en route to the store from other locations that have closed, he said.
During the final sale, Raven Rock Workwear will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call (937) 848-2004.
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